Electric switch apparatus



E. L. FISH ET AL ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS June 6, 1944. I

2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1941 INVENTORS, EDWIN L. FISH.

BY DAN/EL E. MABEN.

ATTORNEK June 6, 1944. E. L.'FISH ET AL 2,350,551

ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS Filed Dec. 22. 194; 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2

INSULATION INVENTORS, Z zg. 3. 50mm L. FISH.

DAN/EL E. MABE/V.

v ATTORNEY. I

Patented June 6, 1944 Edwin L. Fish and Daniel E. Maben,

San Francisco, Calif. v

Application December 22, 1941, Serial No. 424,034

6 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switch apparatus in general, and has for its principal object a remote control switch for automatically operating a selective code station electric call apparatus of the long and short bell or impulse type as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,262,471 of November 11, 1941, and in which variously coded stations may be respectively selected by sending over the wire the proper arrangement of long and short electrical impulses, in succession.

A feature of the invention is a series of manually movable short and long contact switch setting and indicating devices or keys, which are first moved to form a visible indication of the code to be sent, followed by an energizing circuit switch and power operated rotary contactor operated thereby for automatically transmitting the arrangement of long and short code impulses as denoted by the setting of the visible indicating devices. 7

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a lamp or signal atthe sending portion of the instrument indicating the operationof the power driven contactor. Also another similar signal indicating at the sending portion of the instrument each long or short impulse as made at the remotely situated selective call apparatus. g

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings I Fig. l is a diagrammatic showing of the principal parts of our electric switch apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the power operated rotary contactor. I

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of Fig. 2 as seen from the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the contact ring as seen from the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section of the setting and indicating devices as seen from the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. I I Before describing the drawings in'detail the inventionmay be briefly stated to consist of a motor driven rotary contactor adapted to make a series of successive contacts either long'or short, and in any desired relation such as would correspond to the various codes produced by the old hand operated bell signals used on old telephones, the total number of contacts possible to be made in one revolution of the contactor being equal to the largest combined number of short and long contacts required to handle all the stations desired. In the apparatus of the drawings a maximum'of 'six'successive contacts can be made, but of course any greater number may be provided.

The contact elements of this rotary contactor are individually connected to a row of manually operated movable 'switches'or keys projecting from a board or panel which normally are in intermediate or neutral position'so that if the contactor were revolved no contacts would be made. but if any one of these keys were pushed to one Side the contact element electrically connected thereto would be moved to produce a short contact when the contactor revolved, and if pushed to the opposite side along contact. Hence with the row of keys pushed respectively to one side or the other, or left standing in central position the instrument; becomesset as it were, to a code of long and short contacts and intervals between corresponding to the visible arrangement of the keys.

After thus setting the instrument board to the desired code, the motor switch (also on the instrument board) is closed and the contactor revolves to make successive long and short contacts corresponding to the visible setting of the keys and sends corresponding current impulses to the selective code station electric call apparatus (which maybe'situated at any remote point) so as to transmit the code automatically.

The motor switch and circuit is arranged to give, when in one position, the rotary contactor but one half of a revolution and break the circuit, or when in another position to keep the contactor revolving for repeated calls of the same code until the switch is manually pushed to neutral. The motor circuit also the code contact circuits are both equipped with tellite indicators on the instrument panel so that the operator can always see at ,agIance whether the motor is running and whether the, code contacts are being made; Thisvis important as the contactor as well as the selective call apparatus may both be at a point remote from the sending instrument key board.

In the drawings,Fig. l, the elements included within the dotted rectangle A constitute the sending instrument or keyboard upon which the fkeys are moved to form a physical representation' of the code of impulses to be sent, the six keys being respectively designated l, 2, 3, 4, 5, and '6,[ and being here indicated as electric switches standing in central or neutral position between two rows of contacts similarly enumeraled and respectivelyprimed and double primed.

Also positioned on'the keyboard is a single pole switch for closing a step-down transformer circuit, and a two way switch 8 for controlling the timing motor C which revolves the contactor, also a contactor signal lamp 9 and a motor operating signal lamp l0.

The step-down transformer is designated B and its primary winding I3 is energized from house lines l2, and supplies a lower voltag'e current from its secondary M for operating the magnets of the contactor.

The other principal elements shown on Fig. 1 comprise the selective code station electric call apparatus or selector D (the details of which may be as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,262,471 previously mentioned, or may be any other type adapted to utilize codes of long and short electrical impulses), and a battery or other source E of electric energy for the impulse circuit.

The remaining apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises the operative parts of the rotary contactor F as follows:

is an upper semicircular row of six spaced electromagnets controlling the positions respectively of six movable contact bars or elements l6, positioned around a central shaft carrying two oppositely disposed contact arms adapted to contact elements l6 successively upon rotation of the shaft.

I9 is a lower semicircular row of six spaced electromagnets similarly spaced about the shaft H and controlling the positions of six movable contact bars or elements 2|], and two contact arms 2| carried by the shaft are arranged to contact elements when the shaft is rotated.

Shaft I1 is extended from the motor C and the motor is of the back-geared type so that upon energizing will revolve the shaft slowly at uniform speed, preferably about 1 R. P. M., or so as to give the desired time interval between contacts for sending the code impulses. .1

2223 is a pair of slip rings or sliding conductor contacts for conveying current to the motor for automatically stopping the same at each half revolution when the motor switch 8 is moved in one direction, (right) and for starting it again when moved in the opposite direction (left).

The contactor construction chosen to illustrate the operation of the invention is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and comprises a supporting base plate 24 secured to which are several upright posts 25, and extending transversely of which posts and carried thereby is a lower disk or shelf 26. to the underside of which-the motor C is secured and to the upper side of which shelf is secured an insulating disk 21 to the upper surface of which the slip ring conductors 22, 23, are secured.

The extreme upper ends of at least two of the posts 25 are connected by a bar or cross member 28 carrying or forming an upper bearing 29 for the shaft H, below bar 28 the shaft is provided with two spaced metal flanges 30, 3 I, to the upper sides of which respectively are secured insulating disks 32, 33. The upper disk 32 carries the contact arms i8 and the lower disk 33 carries the contact arms 2|. These arms are pivoted at 34 to metallic bosses 35 in turn 'adjustably secured in radial slots 36 in their supporting disks as by clamping nuts 31 and are electrically connected with the shaft flange as by flexible wires 38, and each pivoted contact arm is free to turn counterclockwise (see Fi 2) under restraint of a coiled tension spring 39 secured at one end to the inner end of the arm and at the other to the insulating disk by a pin 40, so as to normally be resiliently held against a stop 4|.

Secured to the lower side of the lower insulating disk 33 is a pair of spring contact arms 42, 43, electrically connected together as at 44, and which arms ride resiliently on the slip rings 22, 23 as indicated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. Ring 22 has two gaps in it at diametrically opposite points (45) to break contact with slider arm 43 at these points, but the segments are electrically connected around the gap at all times as by a conductor 46.

Spaced between the upper and lower revolvab-le contact arms l8 and 2| is a fixed insulating shelf or ring 41' carried by the posts 25 and spaced around about half of which are the two sets or series of contact elements l6 and 20, the former being on the upper side of the shelf to cooperate with contact arms I8, and the latter on the lower side of the shelf to cooperate with the contact arms 2|.

Contact elements l6 and 20 take the form of elongated flat plates arranged radially with respect to shaft I1 and are each slidably positioned on an insulating block 48. and guided by screws and washers 49 so that their inner ends may be projected into the path of the contact arms I 8 (or 2|) as they revolve, or withdraw therefrom, and the inner ends of the sliding elements are preferably beveled off as indicated at 6', so that the revolving contact arms will make contact at these beveled edges and under influence of their springs 39 yield until they slip off the outer ends. Thus the length of time of the contact will depend on how far inward these tapered elements are projected and/ or how far outward the bosses 35 of the contact arms are positioned in their slotted mountings, or with duplicate positioning of upper and lower contact arms the upper set of slidable elements may extend further inward (as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings) to secure the longer contact when the elements are projected into the path of the revolving arms.

Blocks 48 are mounted on separate brackets 50 in turn secured to shelf 41 and each bracket also carries an electromagnet (I5 or l9) operating on a movable armature 52 pivoted at its lower end at 53 and carrying an insulating upper end 54 projecting freely in a slotted hole in the outer end of the slidable contact element so as to slide the same inwardly into the path of the revolving contact arms when the magnet is energized, and to be pulled outwardly again when de-energized asby a tension spring 55.

The revolving contact arms l8 and 2| are electrically connected by any suitable means, such as by shaft ll, frame member 26 of the machine to a circuit wire 56 extending to the selector D and to the signal lamp 9 and to the source of the impulse current (E) as indicated, while each slidable contact element is connected through appropriate wiring 51 to the opposite leg of the impulse circuit.

The slidable element moving magets are wired to and for operation by the code keys or switches on the visible code instrument board as follows:

The lower or short contact set (taking them from left to right in Fig. 1), each magnet |9 has one terminal wire (58 to 63) respectively connecting with switch key contacts i to 6 .to be connected to 'a common lead 64 to'the' output side of transformer I4 through the key switches when their respective key switches to 6 are moved to the left (in Fig. i). .The other terminal of the magnets iii are all connected to a common lead 65 extending to the opposite end of the transformer output side.

Similarly one wire of each of the magnets I of the upper or long contact set extends as at B5, to 1|, to the opposite key switch contacts I" to 6" to be connected to the common return wire 64 to the transformer through the key switches when moved to the right (in Fig. l), and the other wire of magnets 15 all extend to common lead 65 of the transformer.

In the arrangement shown, there are but six magnets and contact elements for short and for long contacts tion, but it is manifest there could be any number, or extending clear around the circle, also additional layers, for other length of contacts, if desired, also their spacing circumferentially and the speed of the contactor shaft l1 may be arranged to suit any contact time or interval of time between contacts as may be required for the particular installation.

In operation, say to transmit a code of two shorts, one long, one keys I and 2 are pushed to the left, key 3 to the right, key 4 to the left, and keys 5 and E to the right. This forms a visible indication of the code to be sent starting from the lowest key switch upward, or, if the instrument board is horizontally positioned as is preferable, the visible code will read from left to right. Before setting the code however, it is best to close switch 1 to start the transformer so that the magnets as their circuits are closed will project their respective contact elements into the path of the revolvable arm.

After the code is thusvisibly set on the board, and assuming slip ring contacts 42-43 to be in position shown in Fig. l, and the motor or shaft I1 to turn in direction of the arrow, the motor switch 8 on power wire 12 is moved to the right to connect with terminal 12 and wire 13 thence to outer slip ring 22, through slip contactors 42-43 to wire 14, through the timing and driving motor C and back through wire 15 to power wire l I, while a shunt circuit lights signal lamp H1 during the operation of the motor for one half revolution of shaft l1, and goes out when slip contact 43 meets one of the gaps 45 in ring 22 and the motor stops, but during which half turn of shaft 11 the successive contacts were made by Whichever rotating'contact arms were in position to pass over the inwardly projecting contact strips or elements l6-20, and the code impulses corresponding to the visible setting of the keys on the board were transmitted to the seelctor D.

As the shaft l1 stops with slip contact 43 over an open gap, the motor must be started next time by a momentary throwing of the motor switch 8 to the left to close with terminal 18 which completes the motor circuit by wire 19 without going through the slip rings, and immediately bringing the switch 8 over to the right to close at 12 with the circuit first described.

However, when it is desired to automatically repeattlie code signal several times, the motor switch may be left closed with terminal 18, and shaft !1 will continue to revolve until the switch is pulled. In this case, if shaft I1 is revolving about one revolution per minute, there will be about a quarter minute interval between repeat calls, by reason of the second set of contact areas used. 1 During the operation of the contactor F the red arranged in superimposed relashort, and two longs.

light 9 will show the code pulses being sent so that the operator will know just when to pull the motor switch 8 after several repeat calls have been sent. r n

In contemplating the rotary contactor as above described, it will naturally be asked why the lower or short contact set, or series of contact elements 20 were not placed on the opposite blank half of the upper side of disk shelf 41 in the same plane with elements It to be contacted by one of the two revolving contact arms l8 while the other was taking care of the long contact set (16), and in answer it can be saidin such case the time interval between repeat codes (whenthe motor circuit would be too short, unless the disk 41 were made much larger, or the circumferential spacing-of the elements 16 and 20 were made much closer and the shaft l1 run at about half the speed,

Since the key switches to 6 visibly denote the code setting, they should be uniform and visibly different from switches 1 and 8 which do not form part of the visible code, hence switches 1 and 8 should be of a different typeor smaller, as indicated in Fig. 1.

When through sending, the keys should all be returned to central or neutral position. Fig. 5 indicates one form of construction of the key switches pivotally mounted in a panel board or,v

box with its upper surface forming the panel or board on which thevisible code is shown.

Having thus described our improved electric switch apparatus and the manner of its operation, it art. that numerous changes may be made in detailed construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be expressed in the appended claims.

We therefore claim: l. In an electric switch apparatus for sending a series of long and short impulse codes, a panel with a plurality of movable switch keys thereon corresponding to the greatest number of pulses to be sent in a complete code, means mounting said keys for moving to positions respectively denoting long and short pulses so as to collectivelyform a visible representation of all of the successive code pulses to be sent, a rotary contactor adapted for automatically making suc-' cessive electrical contacts of long and short duration in any desired order, electric circuit means connecting the .contactor with the switch keys of the panel determining the order of making said long and short contacts successively in accordance with said visible representation of the code by the setting of said switch keys on said panel, and means for starting and stopping the rotary contactor, said rotary contactor compris-- ing a rotary motor with a timing shaft revolved thereby, contact means carried by said shaft,-

' a plurality of movable contact elements spaced about said shaft each arranged. to produce a long contact with the shaftcontact means when moved into the path of the same as the shaft- 7 revolves and a plurality of movable contact elements similarly spaced about said shaft each-ar-- raged to produce a short contact with the shaft contact means when moved into the path of the same, electrically operated means for moving the contact elements individually into the path of the contact means, and said-electric circuit means connecting the long and short contactpositions ofthe keys for respectively 30 moving the long and short contact elements to successively makethe contacts in accordance with the switch 8 is closed at 18 will be evident to anyone skilled in=thecode denoted by the tac'tor isrevolved.

" '2. In an electric switch apparatus for sending a series of long and short impulse codes, a panel with a plurality of movable switch keys thereon corresponding to the greatest; number of pulses to be sent in a complete code, means mounting said keys for moving to positions respectively denoting long and short pulses so asto collectively form a visible representation of all of the successive'code pulses to be sent, a rotary contactor adapted for automatically making successive electrical contacts of long and short duration in any desired order, electric circuit means connect-' ing the contactor with the switch keys 'of the panel determining the order of making said long and short contacts successively in accordance with said visible representation of the code by the setting of said switch keys on said panel, and means for starting and stopping the rotary contactor, said rotary contactor comprising a rotary motor with a timing shaft revolved thereby,

switch setting as the concontact means carried by said shaft, a plurality of individually movable relatively long and short contact elements positioned about said shaft, and

electrically operated means energized by movement of said switch keys respectively arranged to move said contact elements into the path of said contact means, said electric circuit means connecting the long and short positions of the panel keys for respectively so moving the long and short contact elements. 1

' 3. In an electric switch apparatus for sending a series of long'and short impulse codes, a panel. with:a plurality of movable switch keys thereon corresponding to the greatest number of pulses to be sent in a complete code, means mounting said keys for moving to positions respectively denoting long and short pulses so as to collectively form a-visible representation of and the successive code pulses to be sent, a rotary contactor adapted for automatically making successive electrical contacts of long and short duration in any desired order, electric circuit means connect ing the contactor with the switch keys of the panel determining the order of making said longand short contacts successively in accordance with said visible representation of the code by the setting of said switch keys on said panel, and means for starting and stopping the rotary con-' tactor, said rotary contactor-comprising a rotary motor with a timing shaft revolved thereby, contact-means carried by said shaft, a plurality of individually movable relatively long and short contact elements positioned about said shaft,-and electrically operated means energized by movement of said switch keys respectively arranged to move said contact elements into the path of said contact means, said electric circuit means connecting the long and short positions of the panel keys for respectively so moving the long and short contact elements, said contact elements being elongated flat plates mounted to slide radially with respect to said shaft, and said contact means arranged and formed to make contact along the edges of said fiat plates.

4. In an electric switch apparatus for sending a series of long and short impulse codes, a panel with a plurality of movable switch keys thereon corresponding to the greatest number of pulses to be sent in a complete code, means mounting said keys for moving to positions respectively denoting long and short pulses so as to collectively form a visible representation ofzall of the successive code pulses to be sent, a

adapted for automatically making successive electrical contacts of long and short duration in any desired order, electric circuit means connecting the contactor with the switch keys of the panel determining the order of making said long and short contacts successively in accordance with said visible representation of the code by the setting of said'switch keys on said panel, and means for starting and stopping the rotary contactor, said rotary contactor comprising a rotary motor with a-timing shaft revolved thereby, contact means carried by said shaft, a plurality of individually movable relatively long and short contact elements positioned about said shaft, and electrically operated means energized by movement of said switch keys respectively arranged to move said contact elements into the path of said contact means, said electric circuit means connecting the long and short positions of the panel keys for respectively so moving the long and short contact elements, said contact elements being elongated fiat plates mounted to slide radially with respect .to said shaft, and said contact means arranged and formed to make contact along the inner edges of said flat plates and the inner ends. of said plates being mitered or beveled.

e 5. In an electric switch apparatus for sending a series of long and short impulse codes, a panel with a plurality of movable switch keys thereon corresponding to the greatest number of pulses to belsent in a complete code, means mounting said keys for moving to positions respectively denoting long and shortipulses so as to collectively form, a visible representation of all of the successive code pulses to be sent, a rotary contactor adapted for automatically. making successive electrical contacts of long and short duration in any desired order, electric circuit means connecting the contactor with the switch keys of the panel determining the order of making said long and short contacts successively in accordance with said visible representation of the code by the I setting of said switch keys on said panel, and

rotary contactor 7 5 means for starting and stopping the rotary contactor, said switch keys arranged in a row onsaid panel. and being pivoted to each move from a central neutral position to a position to one side of the central position for the long pulses and .to the opposite side for the short pulses, and electric circuits ,with contact terminals at the different positions of said keys extending to said rotary contactor, .and means operated by said circuits determining the succeeding pulse contacts made by the. contactor to be respectively long orshort and in the same successive order visibly shown by said keys.

6. In an electric switch apparatus for sending a series of long and short impulse codes, a panel with a plurality of movable switch keys thereon correspondingto the greatest number of pulses to, be sent in a complete code, means mounting said keys for moving to positions respectively denoting long and short pulses so as to collectively form a visible representation of all of the successive code pulses to be sent, a rotary contactor adapted for automatically making successive electrical contacts of long and short duration in any desired order, electric circuit means connect ing the contactor with the switch keys of the panel determining the order of making said long and short contacts successively in accordance with said visible representation of the code by the setting of said switch keys on said panel, and means-for starting and stopping the rotary con.

project the short contact elements into the path of said contact arm, and similarly upon opposite directional movement the long contact elements, to yield long or short pulse contacts as the arm 5 revolves.

EDWIN L. FISH. DANIEL E. MABEN. 

